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What other hobby besides wargaming seems to create a black hole in your wallet?

When I first bought my 66 Mustang I had $3000 to spend on it. No joke, within 3 months it was all gone. I spent easily over $500 on tools, $200 on a "classic style" radio, $100 on a wiring harness, $200 on electronic ignition system, $80 for new oil/ spark plugs, $100 for new headlights, $150 for a steering wheel, and SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many other parts and tools.

The must have thing for any up and coming mechanic are tools. LOTS AND LOTS of shiny tools. My school has a partnership with Snap On Tools, and Snap On is the Games Workshop of the tool industry. Their tool cabinets run from $2000 - $5000. It's absolutely insane.




But... but... I WANT IT!!

I agree, cars are much more expensive. But it is also more socially acceptable for a guy to spend a gakload of money on a classic car then on little plastic spacemens.

Meh, I do it because I enjoy it. I'm mechanically inclined so it fits me well. I could care less what people think of my car or my other hobbies.

And that's the right attitude to have. Do it because it makes you happy.

Thaanos wrote:And that's the right attitude to have. Do it because it makes you happy.

Smart Idealogy.

I am a cyclist, which is slightly, maybe not even, better viewed than wargaming....

So, here we go for the money I've put down:

Specialized Tarmac, 3200. Keo Speed pedals, 120. Computer, 150. Fit, 110. The shoes I've bought for the bike run 360 dollars american (but I bought in the Eurozone, so it was 250 euro).
Then the spandex bibs that Ive bought run about 200 a piece, with the jerseys running about 100 each.
This is not including the racing helmet, not to mention that I also have a couple mountain bikes which have their own unique costs associated with them.



Of course, just like a Mustang or any other hobby, I do it because I love being on my bike and riding.

Distance running is more expensive than you might think. You have to buy new shoes every 500 miles or so, and when you run 50 miles a week you're replacing ~150 USD shoes every 2.5 months. Throw in the Underarmor, and outer clothes (both which need to be replaced fairly often due to wear) and you're spending ~2000 a year. Throw in training in general, and we're at ~2900 per year just considering gym membership fees.

Going out is way worse though. 100 USD per week, over 52 weeks, comes out to 5200 USD per anum.

I don't think Snap Ons are worth the extra cash compared to Craftsman and the like.

I've generally only seen them in Nascar garages.

Emerett wrote:I don't think Snap Ons are worth the extra cash compared to Craftsman and the like.

I've generally only seen them in Nascar garages.

I think that if you are paid to be a mechanic, Snap On is the way to go, however for most of us, Craftsman is plenty good enough... I think that one way to look at it, to put it into 40k terms... Craftsman is a Cadian Guard army, and Snap On is a full fledged DKoK forgeworld army. They do the same thing plenty well, and will last a long time if you take care of them, just one is more of a "look how much I have to spend" sort of thing.

That said, the OP did say his school has a partnership with Snap-On so I would venture to say that he can get those tools at or better than Craftsman prices.. which I would die for.

I have a mixture of snap-on and facom, both expensive to buy.
But cheaper than screwing up a car, by using cheap tools.

I don't know the situation in the US but most of my friends here who were into cars have ended up selling them in the past few years for more economical and practical models. Fuel prices are going through the roof and consequentially the value of anything with an mpg under 40 has plummeted. I'm afraid the idea of cars as a hobby is quickly becoming a past time exclusive to the rich in the UK.

I'm into mountain biking myself. Bike is worth 1500, with equipment and trips to trails you can spend quite a bit. Compared to that GW seems quite inexpensive.

I know your pain buddy. You want to hemorrhage money, get into mud bogging. I did it for an entire year, and my costs were considered insanly low by most people accounts. I ran with a guy, that blew up a $6k motor and trans in one run through a hole. Another guy in our club, rolled his truck, and had to buy a new truck body for his rig. My buddy Tony went out one weekend, and blew his reareand, fixed it, next week, broke his front axle. Next week, blew his motor up. My brother the Giant bought a brand new set of 35 inch mud terrain tires, while we were trailing, he hit a sharp tree stump and blew up a tire, that was only $300, and then the next month, he got stuck and popped his engine getting out as well.

So yea, anything that has to do with vehicle....something, is going off the scales on cost

KingCracker wrote:I know your pain buddy. You want to hemorrhage money, get into mud bogging. I did it for an entire year, and my costs were considered insanly low by most people accounts. I ran with a guy, that blew up a $6k motor and trans in one run through a hole. Another guy in our club, rolled his truck, and had to buy a new truck body for his rig. My buddy Tony went out one weekend, and blew his reareand, fixed it, next week, broke his front axle. Next week, blew his motor up. My brother the Giant bought a brand new set of 35 inch mud terrain tires, while we were trailing, he hit a sharp tree stump and blew up a tire, that was only $300, and then the next month, he got stuck and popped his engine getting out as well.

So yea, anything that has to do with vehicle....something, is going off the scales on cost

Landrovers rule

Expensive hobbies?

Try raising kids.




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We also have horses. They get expensive quickly. Between feed/fencing/vet bills you also need tack, the trailer always needs improvements (put in a water tank, pump, and propane heated shower into the living quarters last summer for my wife). New riding clothes and gear...

And then there is the motorcycles (my steel horses!). Want to sell a 15 cent bolt for 10 bucks? Chrome it and put a shield and bar logo on it...

Military Surplus Collecting is cheaper.... at least until you start collecting rare items, rather that just hoarding mass quantities of common run of the mill things. Helicopter Helmets will often run 300$, and some WW2 items go for a lot. I'm not at that point yet. I might just stop after I get kevlar helmet.

BUT. I get much more use out of my military surplus things than I do with my gee dub product, I'd say. Plus, the visual collection is much more impressive.

Agreed. While you MUST buy GW models, books and 'equipments' (dices and templates) to play WHFB and WH40k.
the modelling tools, paints and brushes are NOT neccessary GW, if you have access to better, and cheaper alternatives. go for it.
about paintings for the beginners, always buy GW paints, but DON'T buy Spray primers, PVA, and other tools from GW, there's always cheaper (and better) alternatives readily available in DIY shops and stationery ones.
in Thailand, some Thai grognards cited that Leyland spray paint is recommended due to its cheap price, decent availability (the KOBE spray is more common here), and finer pigment particles. superior to those of GW.

CptJake wrote:Expensive hobbies?

Try raising kids...

So...you raise goats?

DickBandit wrote: What other hobby besides wargaming seems to create a black hole in your wallet?

one more hobby that drains my wallet is. being a Kylie fan.
yes. i feel like i'm racing against a very very mad dutch woman. bein' her fans. for her means to dedicate the whole room. or even house to collect all of Kylie collections that dutch girl can afford (which there's ALOT!). buying a non-pirated media is not really a big problem. the real spending was a ticket to any of her concert. especially the FRONT ROWS zone. i've bought the most expensive tickets in her tour of 2008 (9,000 Bahts! can't remember how many Euros or Pounds it was), and again in 2011 ("Aphrodite les Follies", this was the event i've got myself a set of neko ears and tails) this time the best seat ticket costs me 6,000 Bahts.

that cursed dutch woman got her recognition. mew!

WarOne wrote:

CptJake wrote:Expensive hobbies?

Try raising kids...

So...you raise goats?

Actually, yes




We used to have two, but PolkaDot (pictured above) had to be put down last year.

Now we just have Paisley (pictured below):



But they are not near as expensive as the human kind which we also have.


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Samus_aran115 wrote:Military Surplus Collecting is cheaper.... at least until you start collecting rare items, rather that just hoarding mass quantities of common run of the mill things. Helicopter Helmets will often run 300$, and some WW2 items go for a lot. I'm not at that point yet. I might just stop after I get kevlar helmet.

BUT. I get much more use out of my military surplus things than I do with my gee dub product, I'd say. Plus, the visual collection is much more impressive.

I found the display stand for the helmet was a lot more expensive than the helmet.

Meh, try having a house.

Apparently instead of paying property taxes every year I could buy and refurbish a '66 mustang.

or two.

CptJake wrote:

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Samus_aran115 wrote:Military Surplus Collecting is cheaper.... at least until you start collecting rare items, rather that just hoarding mass quantities of common run of the mill things. Helicopter Helmets will often run 300$, and some WW2 items go for a lot. I'm not at that point yet. I might just stop after I get kevlar helmet.

BUT. I get much more use out of my military surplus things than I do with my gee dub product, I'd say. Plus, the visual collection is much more impressive.

I found the display stand for the helmet was a lot more expensive than the helmet.

Ha! Too cute.

My other main hobbies are tattoos, very expensive and my work with St John Ambulance, buying combat trousers, hi-vis, kits and supplies can mount up.

dem i haven't record any accounts on the spendings on the 500 points IG army (see my thread for more info...

CptJake wrote:

WarOne wrote:

CptJake wrote:Expensive hobbies?




But they are not near as expensive as the human kind which we also have.


I found the display stand for the helmet was a lot more expensive than the helmet.

Is she the same Chinese kid you've pointed out earlier??

about military helmet. I did collect one M1 'G.I. pot', which my uncle gave as a gift. (he also collect another)

pics coming soon meow

Ensis Ferrae wrote:

Emerett wrote:I don't think Snap Ons are worth the extra cash compared to Craftsman and the like.

I've generally only seen them in Nascar garages.

I think that if you are paid to be a mechanic, Snap On is the way to go, however for most of us, Craftsman is plenty good enough... I think that one way to look at it, to put it into 40k terms... Craftsman is a Cadian Guard army, and Snap On is a full fledged DKoK forgeworld army. They do the same thing plenty well, and will last a long time if you take care of them, just one is more of a "look how much I have to spend" sort of thing.

That said, the OP did say his school has a partnership with Snap-On so I would venture to say that he can get those tools at or better than Craftsman prices.. which I would die for.

Yeah when I graduate I get $1000 worth of Snap On tools at student price (40%- 50% off) Which will be a set of sockets and wrenches, but hey free tools are free tools.

Snap On is really geared towards Professional repairs. These tools are meant to be used extensively day in and day out. I'll be technician for a dealership so I'm gonna need high grade tools.

I do hear a lot of good about Craftsman tools, but never used them. I may end up buying one their mechanic tools sets, which range from $700 - $1200.

how about that guy who spent $16,000 real dollars on a sword in a videogame, that hadn't even been released yet


http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.336221-Gamer-Drops-16-000-on-Virtual-Sword-for-Unreleased-Game

Samus_aran115 wrote:Military Surplus Collecting is cheaper.... at least until you start collecting rare items, rather that just hoarding mass quantities of common run of the mill things. Helicopter Helmets will often run 300$, and some WW2 items go for a lot. I'm not at that point yet. I might just stop after I get kevlar helmet.

BUT. I get much more use out of my military surplus things than I do with my gee dub product, I'd say. Plus, the visual collection is much more impressive.

I love getting militaria, I prefer vintage if I want to collect it or surplus if I plan on using it.

My last great Medal acquisition was a Bronze Close Combat Clasp from Germany in mint condition was $500. All it does is sit in a ryker box now.

My last great firearms acquisition was an AC42 P.38 pistol, $1000 for that and another $300 for a 42 dated holster. British proofed Colt M1911A1 in 90%+ condition ran me $2000, if it wasn't British proofed, it would probably would have been $4500-$5000.

I also collect football cards, those aren't cheap if you're looking for the best. Luckily most of the guys in the set I am collecting have been busts so their cards are relatively cheap.

While I am not into it as much as I should be (nor wargaming for that matter oddly enough) Paintball can get really expensive depending on how much you practice and how many scenarios/tourneys you go to. I Paintballed (as did my wife) and played 40K regularly at one time and it was like a nuclear meltdown to my bank account. I guess I made the credit card companies happy enough though.

As soon as my son gets another year older I guess I will be back into both hobbies on a regular basis.

I found Airsoft to be rather expensive in Canada. $1200 for a SystemA PTW with C-7 Dimaco lowers and bushmaster front end. $3200 dollars for a M-4 SystemA with CQB and long barrel with lots of mag-pul swag. $60 bucks for German Flecktarn BDU's. I got a SAAV (South african assault vest in OZ cam) for free, I wanted a plate carrier (CERAS) with lvl 4 body plates but at $2000 canadian per plate (and highly highly ill-legal in canada bulletproof vests can land you in jail up here =o[ ) naaa. $250 for a TM SOCOM with silencer and laser pointer ( just like solid snake in the MGS games =o] ).

Then add in the swag like different guns, K-Bar, BB's, playing fee ( $20 bucks per day) lunch, gas money it all adds up fast. But what a freaking blast it was so much fun especially when doing milsims.


I wish I lived in the States, my hobby would be gun collecting, but alas I live in canada where the only people who have guns are the crooks and the ERT. Sighs.

Yes, they are rather expensive.

They're more expensive than Rhubarb and Custards...